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2017 Bellissimo

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Written by Jeff Binney

4/19/2019

Jeff’s Corner

Once again, it’s time for me to say, “Greetings from the Easter Binney!” Happy Easter everyone, today we’ll take a look at our new 2017 Bellissimo, which I am going to endorse right now as a great wine to pair with your Easter ham.

But wait, today is not only Good Friday, it’s also my 39th Wedding Anniversary. 39 years ago today, right about the time this is posted, Kath and I pledged a lifetime of love to one another, and it was probably the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

Our legal ceremony was April 16, but the 19th was the day we celebrated with friends and family at the mythical Party House #2 in Port Aransas. We had a case of Korbell, two kegs of Pearl, and later the legendary Pocket Rockets played lots of blues.

I love you more than ever Kathy, and look forward to many more years of love and happiness. These are the words I wrote on our wedding invitation:

The mirror in your eyes Reflects the hour of our time, Timeless as a grain of sand.

Now, let’s move on to the ’17 Bellissimo. The tasting room staff is all a-buzz about this wine, but when the winery dudes are excited, it’s for sure a special wine. This is the 13th vintage of this, our best-selling and signature Super Tuscan. It is 61.6% Sangiovese, 28.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9.9% Merlot. The ABV is a healthy 14.8%.

The color is classic for Bellissimo, a rustic garnet/ruby with moderate extraction. The aromas are an earthy potpourri of cherry, raspberry, and dried red rose petals complimented by red licorice, cinnamon, clove, cigar box, and allspice.

For a relatively high alcohol wine, it is in no way “hot” in the nose or on the finish. The palate is incredibly well-integrated for a young wine, with Bellissimo’s textbook bright acidity complimented by the fresh fruit and earthy spice. An elegant and graceful wine with a soft, lingering finish, we can expect this to develop into one of our greatest Super Tuscans ever.

Like last week, I thought it might be fun to share the notes I wrote about this wine last month for our Tank Tasting Party:

“A giant of a Bellissimo, our best-selling signature Super Tuscan is really flexing its muscles. Intense earthy aromas of cedar, dried orange peel, and espresso dance with black cherry, licorice, cinnamon, and Mexican vanilla. With a palate that is elegant and refined, this wine is poised for greatness.”